Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce

06/15/2026

This week's Monday Member Spotlight is Alleghany Sparta Trail Association - ASTA!

This year, the Alleghany Sparta Trail Association (ASTA) is celebrating an incredible milestone: 10 years of connecting people with the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains!

Since 2016, ASTA has been a volunteer-led organization dedicated to creating and maintaining pathways for outdoor recreation, promoting healthy lifestyles, and showcasing the breathtaking landscapes that make Alleghany County such a special place to live and visit.

To celebrate their 10th anniversary, ASTA is hosting its Annual Trail Days, a four-day series of guided hikes from June 18–21, 2026:

June 18, 9:00 AM – Hale Lake to Comers Rock (Out & Back)
June 19, 10:00 AM – Stone Mountain Loop (from Backpackers Lot)
June 20, 9:00 AM – Fisher Peak (Out & Back)
June 20, 2:30 PM – Sam Brown Mountain Park
June 21, 1:00 PM – Olde Beau

The weekend concludes with a gathering at Laconia Ale Works on Saturday from 4–6 PM, featuring live music by the Bullhead Mountain Boys!

Whether you're an experienced hiker or simply looking for a new way to explore the beauty of our region, Trail Days offers a fantastic opportunity to get outside, meet fellow outdoor enthusiasts, and celebrate a decade of trail advocacy and community impact.

Congratulations to ASTA on 10 years of stewardship, adventure, and helping people discover the heart of the Blue Ridge!

Learn more at: www.spartatrails.org

06/15/2026

Join us in honoring a hometown hero...
A month or so ago, we received a check from none other than Bob Bamberg. The check? Bob was renewing his personal chamber membership. My first inclination, as a friend who knew the health issues Bob was facing, was to return his check and let him know that, while we appreciated his support, we didn't want to be a burden on his finances. After some consideration of the circumstances, however, we decided to accept his payment. Turns out, he had someone bring the check by the office to make sure we received it. His words were, in effect, "The Chamber is important to this town, and I want to continue to support them."

With the news of his passing this weekend, my heart broke for this man who gave so much to this community and the people who call this wonderful place home. Like myself, he wasn't born here, but he "got here as fast as he could!" We want to honor Bob and his support - but more importantly, we want to honor him as a tremendous individual who gave all he had to his friends and family. There is no greater love. Finally, I want to post here a moving tribute I stole from his own page, written by his long-time friend, Chris Cox. I hope you enjoy this story, "The Man Who Saved the Paper," as much as I did.

A Tribute to Bob Bamberg

06/12/2026

Hurry - registration for this fun event ends June 16 and the event will be held on Saturday, June 27th!

06/12/2026

Our collaborative committee has been working on this since last year's event - it's going to be bigger and better than ever. Come out today and enjoy a free lunch and stay for the free dinner if you can. Music, door prizes, and lots of great information and free stuff. Everyone likes free stuff!

06/11/2026

We are pleased to announce that the sandwich lunch for this event will be provided by Muddy Creek Cafe, courtesy of our lunch sponsor, Fifth Third Bank of Sparta. Hurry and sign up for you or one of your employees for this informative (and yummy) Lunch and Learn next week. Space is limited and we're filling up fast, so don't delay!

And we are pleased to announce that the lunch will be provided by Muddy Creek Cafe, courtesy of our lunch sponsor, Fifth Third Bank of Sparta.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 12:00 NOON
If you've ever wondered why your small business's Facebook advertising hasn't given you the results you expected, you'll want to come out to this event - AND we'll give you a free lunch just for attending 😋

Everyone is invited, but we do need you to RSVP so that we order enough food for everyone. Space is limited, so sign up today!

https://www.alleghanycountychamber.com/event-detail/k_VnpoKSLvLv9U_4ujoMTQ2/brbn-entrepreneurs-free-lunch-learn

06/10/2026

Jeff Cox final address... wonderful!

Jeff Cox, the outgoing president of the N.C. Community College System, shared parting advice during his last address to the State Board.

06/10/2026

Sparta shines again this weekend and all month long with a fun lineup of activities, concerts, specials, and training opportunities.

Check them out at

Email from Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce Wednesday, June 10, 2026 Click on the graphic for more information on how to earn money towards your Chamber Membership! LARRY VANHOOSE

06/10/2026

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 12:00 NOON
If you've ever wondered why your small business's Facebook advertising hasn't given you the results you expected, you'll want to come out to this event - AND we'll give you a free lunch just for attending 😋

Everyone is invited, but we do need you to RSVP so that we order enough food for everyone. Space is limited, so sign up today!

https://www.alleghanycountychamber.com/event-detail/k_VnpoKSLvLv9U_4ujoMTQ2/brbn-entrepreneurs-free-lunch-learn

06/10/2026

WE ARE FINALISTS! It was truly an honor to be nominated for Blue Ridge Country's "Best of the Mountains" in the categories of Best Events: Arts & Crafts Show and Best Events: Heritage & Culture Festival. But now we've been notified that we are finalists in the voting - so don't delay, vote again today! And again tomorrow - let's unashamedly stuff those ballot boxes!

https://link.bestof.vote/6a22d9e27a7bc20767bb0fd0

We want to thank everyone for voting for us, but we noticed there are a lot of Sparta area finalists, so to be sure you get to vote for all of them. After you click the above link to vote for us you'll be taken to the main contest page and you'll see a link for voting on the central Blue Ridge area (TN-NC) - that's the one to click on to see all the categories; lots of great Sparta destinations in there including the Alleghany Historical - Genealogical Society, Inc., Sparta Candle Co., Alleghany Arts and Crafts, Doughton Park, The Blue Ridge Parkway, and more!

VOTING PERIOD
Nomination Round: April 23 - June 1st, 2026
Finalist Round: June 10th - July 12th, 2026

06/10/2026

Bears seem to be everywhere this Spring, so be beary careful and smart. You gotta be "...smarter than the average bear, hey Boo Boo?!"

🐻 BEAR ACTIVITY ALERT 🐻

The Alleghany County Sheriff's Office has received an increase in bear-related complaints throughout the county in recent weeks. Sheriff Glenn contacted the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and they have provided resources to help residents safely coexist with black bears.

Bears are often attracted to easy food sources around homes. Residents are encouraged to:

• Secure trash and garbage containers
• Remove bird feeders when bears are active
• Never feed or approach bears
• Avoid leaving pet food outdoors
• Clean grills and outdoor cooking areas regularly
• Secure livestock feed and other attractants
• Be mindful when letting your pets outside, especially during the early morning and nighttime hours when bears are most active.

For additional bear safety information and prevention tips, visit:

🐻 BearWise:
www.BearWise.org

If you are experiencing wildlife-related property damage, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission recommends contacting your district biologist through the following link:

🦌 NC Wildlife District Biologists:
https://www.ncwildlife.gov/wildlife-management/wmdistrictbiologistcontactspdf/open

For wildlife conflict assistance, the NC Wildlife Helpline can also be reached at 866-318-2401 during normal business hours.

The Alleghany County Sheriff's Office appreciates your help in keeping both our residents and North Carolina's wildlife safe. If you encounter an emergency situation involving a bear that presents an immediate threat to human safety, please call 911.